فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
RABAT – In a success story that inspires thousands, Nawal Halimi, of Moroccan origin from Taounate, embodies a model of successful integration and boundless ambition. She has journeyed from a childhood in Denmark to working for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), becoming a voice for the defense of children’s rights in the most challenging circumstances.
A Childhood Between Two Cultures
In 1977, Nawal took her first breaths in Denmark, where her conservative Moroccan family from the Taounate province had settled. She grew up in a family environment deeply rooted in Moroccan values and culture, while at the same time being immersed in the French education system, as her family planned to one day return to Morocco, making proficiency in French essential for their children.
Nawal lived a unique balancing act; Moroccan culture at home, a French education at school, and a daily life in the heart of Danish society. Despite this cultural blend, she did not experience identity conflicts in her childhood. Instead, she succeeded in high school by achieving an unprecedented feat: obtaining both the French Baccalaureate and the Danish High School Diploma simultaneously, which required double the effort. Nawal succeeded in winning the bet, bringing great pride to her family.
After completing her university studies, Nawal specialized in Economics, earning a Master’s degree. She then embarked on a different professional journey, entering the world of aviation where she served for 20 years, working across Germany, England, and back in Denmark. Her love for travel remained an integral part of her personality, even after she decided to change her professional path and join UNICEF in 2018.
Today, Nawal Halimi oversees logistics and the storage of aid in 150 countries around the world, traveling constantly to train local teams on how to use advanced management systems. Nawal is fluent in four languages: Arabic, French, Danish, and English, which gives her a powerful tool for communication in her humanitarian work.
For Nawal, working at UNICEF is not just a job, but “an opportunity to help children in poor countries and to see the immense possibilities that make me believe the world is a small village,” she says.
Despite her remarkable success, Nawal has not forgotten her Taounate and Moroccan roots, and she takes pride in the culture that forms an essential part of her identity. At the same time, she considers Denmark her homeland as well, the country where she was born, raised, and grew up.
Nawal directs a message to ambitious Maghreb youth, saying: “Migration must be done through legal channels. Learn the language of the host country first and foremost, and integrate into the new society so that you can achieve your goals and be a positive representation of Moroccans wherever you go.”
The story of Nawal Halimi is a source of inspiration for many, especially young people of immigrant backgrounds who strive to balance their original identity with their integration into new societies, while pursuing their professional ambitions on both national and international levels.
